Aloha, from lonely Kapa’au,
My family are all across the
oceans enjoying one another, without me…I did not know that could be
possible??!
Our wonderful new is that
our tribe is increasing…
Heather and Nathan welcomed
their third son, Kukini nu’oli o ke Akua Kupa'a Blair. He was a big baby, nine
pounds! But his name is even bigger. Those Hawaiian words express his parent’s
prayers for God to use his life.
"Kukini” - a
messenger/runner, “nu’oli” – Good News, “o ke Akua'” – from God! Runner/messenger that brings good news from
God.
"Kupa'a" means
Steadfast. Dayna woke up from a dream the morning after his birth encouraged to
share that name with his parents. Her prayer was that God make him “steadfast”
as Paul exhorted the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15.58).
I am so glad Dayna is there
enjoying this little guy and his family. I figured that this big lug would be a
bit too much for them all at this time.
Here’s the family a couple
days before “Kini” launched…
The rest of our immediate
family converged in Istanbul. Granddaughter Maylee flew from Kazakhstan to Papa
Josiah and then Aaron and Kara came for a visit too! So glad they could enjoy
several days together.
I was going to add a photo
of myself all alone crying. I have had my moments - but I am coping. I have
tried to guilt the church members into inviting me over for meals, and
calculated I will make it by turning my underwear inside out for week two.
We continue to enjoy our ministry
with IDEAS. We have been very encouraged through meeting with colleagues serving
in Kazakhstan, China, and India. When we lived in war-torn Uganda in the 1980’s
it could take six months to receive a tattered letter. Talking to, and even
seeing, someone – through waves and wires I don’t understand - was beyond our
wildest imagination! But God has let us live long enough to do just that!
It's not like the
irreplaceable role of their presence, but we have a small part in helping our
colleagues stay on-site and touch lives with the Good News of Jesus. With all
the noise swirling around November 5, its easy to lose sight of God’s heart for
“every nation, tribe, people and language (to be) standing before the throne
and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7.9). And, we lift them up in prayer – no
phones needed for that most powerful connection!
There are lots of
encouraging updates on our IDEAS website. Here is one by a young lady we hope
to meet early next year in Guatemala: https://ideasworld.org/stories-of-transformation-alma
Bear with me as I stick my toe into the stormy political waters. I wrote the article below for our Kalahikiola Church newsletter. I hope it might give some hope and perspective….
Should
a Pastor tell you How to Vote?
I have been a pastor for
over 40 years, and very rarely have I wondered what political party, if any,
people prefer. As a follower of Jesus, I am much more interested in one’s
faith. That has not changed.
But whether I like it or
not, the politics-free-zone in public life is growing ever smaller. Political
labeling happens quickly, and then pigeonholing soon follows. Neighbor love
gets shut down because of allegiances to politicians six time zones away from
Hawaii. Shouting replaces sharing. Attacks stifle exchanges of ideas. Lord,
have mercy on our nation!
Government under God is part
of the Lord's plan for His original, very good, creation. Governments, of all
varieties, have one thing in common: the legal use of force.
Government is a blessing,
especially when it sticks to the tasks that God has given it. Most politicians
used to stay in their own lane. Back in the day, politicians focused mostly on
civic and economic affairs. Schools, businesses, media, churches, health care,
and families were usually free from political over-reach.
Now those walls of
separation have fallen. The political world has invaded God's jurisdiction. Did
God create men and women? That basic assumption was a fence for generations.
Today both political parties have declared war on the worldview of Genesis chapter
one - the origin and purpose of life, male and female made in the image of God,
marriage and family, and the authority of God the Creator.
Government now tells schools
what to teach, hospitals who to save – and kill, businesses who to serve,
people who they are, media what to say, families what they are, and churches
who to fear. Politicians boldly attempt to occupy the throne of God. Do they
know God made King Uzziah a leper when he thought the Holy Place was his lane?
Here are some thoughts about
Christians and politics.
First, all of us Christian citizens should engage in the
political process. Vote! The statistics are embarrassing! Voter turn-out in
Hawaii is woefully low. And we Christians are not setting a good example. Many
of us do not vote. Voting is not just a privilege but a responsibility. Joseph
and Daniel faithfully honored the true and living God while serving pagan
empires. To not be political is to be political - casting a vote for the status
quo.
Dayna and I worked almost thirty
years in nations where their citizens have limited opportunities to express
their thoughts and opinions. Our dear friends in Uganda, Kazakhstan and China
would envy our opportunities to freely think, speak, act, and vote as we are
privileged to do in the United States. Those we vote into office will spend our
money, shape our thoughts, disciple our kids, dictate our healthcare, defend
our safety, and protect our freedoms.
Strive to know what that politician will do – and has done - as your
government employee. It can be hard to
turn your head from the shiny objects of their sound bites to examine their
substance. It is not easy to hear through the spin and find what a candidate
really believes. But find out we must! How did they vote on key issues? Who
funds their campaigns?
Second, I have no interest in telling anyone how to vote. I
agree with the Johnson amendment of the U.S. tax code that prohibits non-profit
organizations – like churches - from endorsing or opposing political
candidates. Martin Luther said the church should be a “mouth house” of the good
news of Jesus Christ. People of all political stripes and colors should feel
welcome into God’s family. God forbid that His Church become a red zone, or
blue zone, or a rainbow zone. Jesus and the cross should be the only “stumbling
block” to enter– not our allegiances to frail men of dust. We declare, and
should be ready to die for, a Kingdom that endures forever – established
through the blood and righteousness of our Redeemer. God forbid that any person
or party should rival our loyalty and witness to the Lord Jesus Christ, Savior
of the world.
Third,
New Testament Christians are trusted by God to be led by the Spirit. We are
exhorted to be mature, not childlike, “all who are led by the Spirit of God are
sons and daughters of God” (Romans 8.14 ESV). “The law was our guardian until
Christ came…but now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for
in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3.24-26
ESV).
Believers in the Old
Covenant lived under a law system that detailed much of their daily lives. But
Jesus in His New Covenant summarized that “guardian” with two commands – love
God and neighbor. Peter’s bullet point for God’s extensive Mosaic law for the
“elect exiles” was, “Be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1.15 ESV). Now, the
way God intends us to glorify Him is to grow in our knowledge of Christ, be
filled with the Spirit as we study the Scriptures and spread His Good News. Do all that in all you do.
The Bible does not tell us
how to vote. As Christians we need to do our homework and make our choices for
God’s glory. And as family members with all Christ’s followers, we need to
respect each other’s political choices.
In Christ you are trusted by God as His child and ambassador. Voting for
creatures of dust in this passing world is small stuff compared to the eternal
impact of Christ’s Kingdom.
Fourth, we need to balance the tension of our dual
citizenships. The Apostle Paul wrote Philippian Christians who were proud of
their favorable status with Rome. “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we
await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3.20 ESV). Birth in
Philippi gained them Roman citizenship, a privileged status held by a minority
in the Empire. Like us, Philippian Christians had a dual citizenship.
We should be loyal to both.
But our primary loyalty is to the King of kings, and Lord of lords. The Apostle
urged these citizens to glory in their eternal, blood-bought, citizenship.
He will “make all things
new” (Revelation 21.5 ESV). His policies manifest God’s wisdom, enforced by
God’s power, and applied by God’s love – forever and ever! He alone is worthy
of our hope, love, and loyalty. As we await the coming of Jesus, let us grow in
knowing Him. Do you spend more time listening to your AI designed political
newsfeed than reading your Bible? Do you know more names of politicians than
books of the Bible? How does prayer shape your life and thoughts? Do those who
know you identify you as a follower of Jesus or a voter for _______?
Tim Keller made the helpful
point that key pillars of our Christian responsibility mean we do not fit
neatly into either major American political party.
“Christians should be
committed to racial justice and the poor, but also to the understanding that
sex is only for marriage and for nurturing family. One of those views seems
liberal and the other looks oppressively conservative. The historical Christian
positions on social issues do not fit into contemporary political
alignments…The biblical commands to lift the poor and to defend the rights of
the oppressed are moral imperatives for believers…However, there are many
possible ways to help the poor. Should we shrink government and let private
capital markets allocate resources, or should we expand the government and give
the state more of the power to redistribute wealth?... The Bible does not give
exact answers to these questions for every time, place and culture…thoughtful
Christians, all trying to obey God’s call, could reasonably appear at different places on the political spectrum, with loyalties
to different political strategies.” (Timothy
Keller, “How Do Christians Fit into the Two-Party System?” New York
Times, September 29, 2018)
Fifth, our Twenty-first Century West is sinking to be very
much like the First Century world – a minority of Jesus-followers surrounded by
an aggressive, idolatrous, and immoral majority. The light of the Risen Jesus grew and
flourished amidst the dark moral, civil, and political world of Rome. As Jesus
prayed, His followers were “in the world…but not of the world…and sent into the
world as His witnesses” (John 17.11,14,18 ESV).
The Early Church proclaimed
two truths we often miss in our day. One, have no fear, our God reigns as
Sovereign! Too many Christians today throw up their hands in panic, crying,
“What can we do, the world is so terrible!!” The Apostle Paul’s back was massively
scarred by whip lashes, ever reminding him of the darkness of the human heart
and the fierce opposition of Satan. But
he continued his Gospel death-march in kindness and love. The Apostolic record
shows believers were more afraid for the world than of the world. “Some trust
in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God”
(Psalm 20.7 ESV).
Two, many American
Christians place too much hope on politicians. Whoever we elect will be mortal,
fallible, and disappointing. Even the best government employee will never live
up to the hype of their campaign spin. Brothers and sisters, we are loved by
Almighty God! “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred
us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the
forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1.13,14 ESV). We have the only real Good News.
Finally, the Church especially needs to be ready to serve our
nation after November 6 and beyond. After this consequential election half of
our nation will be upset! It is very important for Christians to show up and
vote November 5. But it will be equally important to serve King Jesus
faithfully after the election.
There is no Biblical command
to vote. But we are clearly commanded to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2.1-2), and submit to them (1
Peter 2.13). Once we have chosen a leader, we must respect the office they
hold. Our nation will move forward best when all citizens strive to help our
leaders succeed, even those we did not vote for. It is hard to pray sincerely
for someone and talk stink about them. Everyone in our nation needs grace and
mercy, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain”
(Psalm 127.1 ESV). If God gave us what we deserved, we would all be in hell!
That grim reality should humble us and move us to extend kindness.
We can thrive in earth’s
kingdoms when we are fueled by the vision of God’s Kingdom. As we Christians
share our broken world with those who do not know the Lord, we can point them
to solid hope. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government
shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his
government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over
his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with
righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of
hosts will do this” (Isaiah 9.6,7 ESV).
Jesus came to earth and
accomplished His mission. God’s Kingdom was purchased. He will come again soon
and perfect it. The prophets saw it from afar, “For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk
2.14 ESV). John saw it in a vision, “The kingdom of the world has become the
kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever”
(Revelation 11.15 ESV). And one day all citizens of the Kingdom of our Lord
will fully see, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I
know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1
Corinthians 13.12 ESV).
“Be subject for the Lord's
sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to
governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do
good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence
the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your
freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone.
Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 3.13-17
ESV)
Mark Blair, pastor,
Kalahikiola Church, Kapa’au, Hawaii, October 2024
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